the HLLV in order to have more appropriate figures upon which to base an evaluation. Until such estimates are made, however, there is little reason to expect significant impacts from nitric oxide production by afterburning. Production of nitric oxide in the mesosphere during reentry by the second stages of the HLLV and personnel launch vehicle (PLV) is also potentially significant. Estimates of the rate of nitric oxide production by this mechanism should be made as well as detailed calculations to assess its s ignificance. Finally, the climatic effects which may result from changes in stratospheric and mesospheric trace substance concentrations, including effects arising from a potential increase in noctilucent cloud formation, are not expected to be highly significant although much more extensive calculations are required for a detailed evaluation. Appendix 3B includes a list of specific recommendations for both theoretical and experimental research that should be conducted over the next one-and-a-half to two years in order to provide as good a basis as possible, given the limited time available, for the evaluation of potential environmental impacts in the stratosphere and mesosphere. These specific recommendations should, however, be viewed within the context of three more general recommendations: a With regard to experimental and observational measurement programs, it is recommended that ongoing programs, currently funded by NASA, FAA and other agencies, be identified which can be augmented and/or extended by DOE in order to provide additional or more timely data; in general, it is recommended that DOE participate in major experimental programs related to upper atmospheric research. ® It is recommended that a specific SPS-oriented modeling project be established in one or more of the experienced modeling groups. e Finally, it is recommended that DOE begin planning for a longer term environmental impact assessment effort, assuming that work on SPS will continue beyond FY 1980, particularly in view of the fact that 20 years or so will elapse between the time that the current environmental assessment is made and the time at which actual construction will commence.
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